Why am I not supposed to take ibutrophen while on a 6 day course of methylprednisolone?

Have been taking IBP for a number of years for low back pain residual from 2 HNP episodes. Recently had similar episode with acute excruciating pain radiating down left leg. My doctor ordered this C-Pac of 6 days in decreasing doses. Said not to take the IBP with C-Pac. Pain has increased but localized more to hip.

Responses (3)

methylprednisolone is a strong steroidal anti-inflammatory and ibuprofen is also anti-inflammatory but a non steroidal. If the methylprednisolone isnt helping ibuprofen wont help either plus, as kaismama said, taking both is really hard on your stomach and could cause you to bleed. Here is a link to the interactions checker for these two meds:https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=1310-0,1607-3549&professional=1

Methylprednisolone affects skin problems. Prednisone affects muscle and inner inflammation. These are different steroids for different problems. Because the stomach is part of the skin system, the whole GI system as well, the methylprednisolone is for treating the GI tract as well. I would like to know why you are taking this. Aside from that, it then becomes obvious why the two are not used together. Good luck with your treatment. Please get to the doc for the severe pain. Blood clots in the legs cause deep pain as well as nerve impingement can so you need a real med for this. These are treated differently.

Hi. They are not interchangeable as you suggest. I had a long discussion with my Rheumy on this. For example, my disease is for muscles and only prednisone will work because of tissue type. Which one to use is based upon tissue type being treated. That they are both corticosteroid steroids does not mean they treat things the same. It is like talking about NSAIDs. Ibuprofen works on the P factor. Aspirin is a geneal pain killer and often works better than other NSAIDs although hard on the stomach. Ibuprofen was invented by a woman physician, Northrup, to help with pain connected to our periods. Aspirin never touched the deep pain. Same concept for those two steroids. By the way, read her book as it is fascinating.